Page 43 - Bonhams Chinese Scholar's Art March 2014
P. 43
Title page of the catalog for the collection of
John R. Peters Jr.’s “Chinese Museum”, from 1847
Property from the John R. Peters Jr. Collection
The following two lots are accompanied by impressive remarkable overview of Chinese material culture that
provenance. Originally belonging to John R. Peters jr., the sought to cast China in a favorable light. First exhibiting
paintings and books were once the property of one of at a temporary location at the Marlboro Chapel in Boston
the earliest exhibitors of Chinese art in America. Peters in 1845, the exhibition later moved to Philadelphia, and
was fortunate to travel to China with Caleb Cushing’s eventually to 539 Broadway in New York City in 1849,
1844 diplomatic embassy to China. While there Peters Peter’s hometown. Perhaps due to Peter’s declining
assembled a collection of over eight hundred objects health, the museum would be in New York less than
that illustrated all aspects of Chinese life and culture. a year, and a majority of the collection was sold to P.T.
Returning to the United States in 1845 he possessed a Barnum in 1850.
Chinese Art from the Scholars Studio | 41
